GOING NORTH

This is an amazing scenic drive to Aberfeldy on the “back road”; a popular walk on the Birks of Aberfeldy and back on the main A9. I find the road from Crieff to Aberfeldy just stunning everytime I travel that way. Take the road to Auchterarder then through Crieff, past the Famous Grouse distillery, to Aberfeldy. The car park of the Birks is on the A826 before you arrive at Aberfeldy.

The walk terrain is a well-marked path with handrails where there are steep edges. It follows the stream and up the side of the valley. It starts from the upper level of the Birks car park.

After the walk have a little lunch and cake in the lovely Aberfeldy Watermill Bookshop and Cafe on Mill Street. I wonder if you can resist buying a book or two!.

On the way back why not visit the Highland Chocolatier at Grandtully on the road between Aberfeldy and the A9. This is a lovely café for Iain Burnett's hot chocolate and cake, exhibition of chocolate making and gift shop with his award winning chocolate. You can have a chocolate tasting if you pre-book. Always a “must” with my daughter when she visits.

GOING SOUTH-WEST

Glendevon (round trip drive 45 minutes, plus walk of whatever you like, plus a stop at the Tomaukin in Glendevon or Gleneagles Hotel in Auchterarder).

This is a traditional walk with good views over the hills and to any of the three reservoirs.

Go down our back long drive to Thorntree Square and turn right up the Muckhart Road out of the village. This is the direct route to Pool of Muckhart and a lovely drive – lots of twists and turns through the valley. There are also lots of forestry commission walks along this road. At the end of the road turn sharp right to Glendevon. There are various entry points for the walks in the Glendevon maps. The Tomaukin, which is by the side of the road in Glendevon, is a traditional pub and serves coffees, lunch or dinner.

You can return the way you came. It always amazes me how such a lovely road can seem so different when you travel it in the opposite direction. You see a great view of Dunning from the top of the hill.

Or, you could return by continuing towards Auchterarder, also a lovely drive, passing Frandy Fisheries, before reaching the roundabout to return to Dunning along the A9 or go to visit Auchterarder including the famous Glenagles Hotel.

GOING SOUTH-EAST

St. Andrews and pretty north Fife coast villages (Dunning to St. Andrews is just under 1 hour through Auchtermuchty and Cupar). The road around the coast to Crail and St. Monans takes 35 minutes. The return from St. Monans to Dunning is 1.25 hours.

On the way you could visit the Walled Garden with Themes of Art and Science at the Backhouse Rossie Estate (also recommended by a guest) just outside Auchtermuchty.

There’s so much to see and do in St. Andrews of course so pick up a booklet or leaflets. The pretty fishing villages on the coast are a delight. Along that coast, or in St. Andrews you can enjoy a beach walk which is wonderful, can be bracing but always good for the soul. Some guests take the packed lunch and sit on the seashore.

Another great place to visit in this direction is Falkland village and Palace and a walk up East Lomond hill or through the lovely Maipsie Den

The Maipse Den walk broadly follows the burn to the top where you walk under the water fall.

Falkland has a pretty main street as well as the Falkland Palace which is open to visitors and has an interesting history. For a more energetic walk you can drive further up the hill from the main street, park in the East Lomond Car Park and climb the hill to get a fabulous view over the to the forth and Edinburgh.

GOING NORTH

Dunkeld to Pitlochry to Blair Castle and House of Bruar (40 minutes drive to Pitlochry and a total of just less than 1 hour to House of Bruar).

There’s so much in this trip that you could make a visit to concentrate on any one of these stops.

You could also add in a visit to Killicrankie to admire the views and learn about its gory history.

Why not visit some from here then take in others if you’re travelling north from Glebe House.

Dunkeld is a lovely little town with, a range of shops (try the delicatessen and interiors shops!), pubs and cafes and a picturesque Cathedral. There’s a lovely river side walk past the cathedral to the hotel.

Pitlochry is a well-known town for tourists with plenty going on – the busy high street, the interesting salmon ladder with visitor centre, a brilliant theatre and river walks.

Blair Castle and gardens are beautiful and the tour self-guided takes about 1 hour.

House of Bruar is an amazing place “Scotland’s Most Prestigious Independent Store” – beautiful, quality goods which are good just to look at!

If you walk up to the Sale Shop at the top of the House of Bruar car park and take the path to your right you will find a walk signposted to the Falls of Bruar.

It’s another lovely, quite easy walk following the path of the burn up to its waterfall.